Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) perching in a wild rose bush in British Columbia
© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Picture
A true night owl
Hard to spot but easy to hear, the Northern Saw-whet Owl is among the most common owls within North America. About 20 centimetres in length and weighing under 150 grams, it is a relatively small bird. It can inhabit a range of habitats and can breed in deciduous as well as coniferous forests. Truly nocturnal, the Northern Saw-whet Owl gets active at dusk and almost entirely preys on small mammals. It gets its name for its distinct whistle which is reminiscent of the sound of sharpening a saw on a whetting stone.
Related Images
A pair of adult bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) with chick at Yukon River, Yukon
Robin's nest with a brown-headed cowbird egg
Whooping cranes taking off during spring migration in South Dakota
Sea otter mother and newborn pup, Monterey Bay, California
Black-tailed godwits, Netherlands
Northern gannets on Great Saltee Island, Ireland
Adélie penguins diving off an iceberg in Antarctica
Black grouse male calling at lek site in Kuusamo, Finland
Today Bing
Charles Bridge over the Vltava River in Prague
Oct 30, 2019
Common pipistrelle bat for Bat Appreciation Month
Oct 30, 2018
Rangoli and lamps during Diwali festival in India
Oct 30, 2016
Marshall Point Lighthouse near Port Clyde, Maine
Oct 30, 2015
